No sporting event takes hold of the world's attention and imagination
like the Olympic Games. The Football World Cup fascinates fans in Europe and
South America; baseball's World Series is required
viewing in North America and the World Table
Tennis Championships attracts the most interest in Asia. But
the Olympics belong to the whole world. Now, after travelling to 17 countries
over 108 years, the summer Games are returning to Athens, the place where the
first modern Olympics was held. Participation in the Games is
looked on not only as an achievement, but also as an honor. The 16 days between
August 13 and 29 will see a record 202 countries compete, up from Sydney's 199.
Afghanistan is back, having been banned from Sydney because the Taliban
government didn't let women do sports. There is also a place for newcomers East
Timer and Kiribati. A total of 10,500 athletes will compete in
28 sports, watched by 5.3 million ticket-paying viewers as well as a television
audience of 4 billion. Athens is to use its rich history and
culture to make the Olympics as special as possible. The Games will open with
cycling events which start in front of the Parthenon and Acropolis monuments.
The final event will be a historic men's marathon following the original route
run by Phidippides in 490 BC to bring news of victory over the
Persians. The ancient stadium at Olympia, first used for the
Games nearly three centuries ago, will stage the shot put competitions. And the
Panathenian Stadium, where the first modern Olympics was held, is to host the
archery (射箭) events. If the well-known ancient sites deliver a
great sense of history to the Games, the 39 new venues add a modern touch to the
city of Athens. The main Olympic stadium, with a giant glass and steel roof, is
the landmark (标志) building of the Olympics. "We believe that we
will organize a 'magical' Games." said Athens 2004 President Gianna
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. "Our history with the Olympic Games goes back nearly
3,000 years, and Athens 2004 could be the best ever."
单选题
The World Table Tennis Championships attracts the most interest in
Asian countries.